My husband asked me if dahi wada was dessert or an appetizer. Truly, I am not sure. It is a popular street food so it can come under the category of chaat. However, I also remember eating it at the end of a meal at weddings so I guess it could be a dessert. We usually eat it before a meal too, so I guess it could be an appetizer as well. Regardless, call it dahi wada or dahi balla, we all love it! The soft spongy wadas covered in hand beaten sweet yogurt and topped with spicy sweet sour chutney brings a warm happy feeling with each bite. The sweet, sour, tangy, salty, spicy flavors of this dish create umami in your mouth!

What you will need:

How to make it:

• Soak the urad dal overnight.
• Make a thick paste of the urad dal with no more than 1/2 cup of water. Make a paste of the ginger and green chili with the urad dal as well.
• Add 1 tablespoon salt and the baking soda, and mix well.

  

• Heat oil, add small amount of batter and fry till golden brown to make small wadas.
• In luke warm water, add 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add the wadas and let them soak for at least 30 minutes.

  

• Hang yogurt for one hour in a muslin cloth to remove any access water.
• Remove the yogurt, add cardamom powder and sugar. Whisk together and set aside.
• Take a serving bowl. Remove the wadas from the water and layer them in the bottom of the bowl.
• Add a layer of the yogurt.
• Next, drizzle the tamarind chutney. You can also drizzle some spicy coriander mint chutney.
• Sprinkle with chaat masala and red chili powder.
• You can also add chopped coriander for garnishing.
• Refrigerate for one hour before serving.